Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-10-25
a VIEW OF WEST POINT.
The ExquisiteIy Trim Surroundings of the
Nations Military School

The ExquisiteIy Trim Surroundings of the
Nations Military School
North and east the Point is hemmnd
in by the mighty river, west and south
by the rock-ribbed highlands. The
plaea little by little has been
leyeled anil graded, until to-day it is
broad. beautiful. grass-grown plain.
bounded on III west by the coy homes
of the officers and professors, on the
south by the stately barracks. the grim,
old fashioned Academic. p" the Grecian
chapel and the domed turrets Of the
Library. Skirting the precipitous river
banks, a broad. graded road encloses
the plateau on the north and east. and
Others, as level and carefully kept
boz r it on the west and south.
and nearly bisect it along the
meridian. Covered with wcll-croppcd
turf, the westerd half Of the "plain"
is devoted to Infantry drills; the bat
teries and the crunchig hoofs Of The
horses are limited 30 the gravel Of the
east rn half All around are the rocky
heights, trimmed with pine aud fir and
cedar. with here and there peep at
the stony parapet OF some old redoubt
or battery thrown npin the days Of the
revolution. The square built hostelry.
once aid for years known as Roe's,
stands perched at the northeast limit
of the plain. Statues in bronze or
marble CLEAN here and there amid the
foliage, and tell OF deeds Of heroism
and devotion on the part Of the sons OF
the old academy. The tall white staff
glistens against the dark background
IF the Highlands. Gna tL2I------ ., the
breeze. high over all, the brilliant cor
ors of the Stars and Stripes; and ON
the easternmost verge OF the broad
plateau lies the camp ground the sum
mer home Of the Corps of Cadets.
Laid out in mathematical regularity,
with wcll-graveled pathways. sentry
posts and ''color-line," and shaded by
beautiful trees, the encampment, like
every thing else at West Point, is Sc
exquisit'ly trim and neat as to have
little resemblance to the "tented field
rs seen in actual service on the front
Ter. Tho white tents CLEAN in nc.
curate ranks that look as though they
were pitched by aid Of the straight
edge" rule. Farthest to the west are
the guard and visitors tents; then
comes an open space between then
and the color line, along which the
arms are stacked every bright day. II
is in this space that the camp ceremo-
Mes guard mounting, dress parade,
aud the weekly insrections-ta take place.
Immed iately behind the color line are
the tents Of four companies, two in
ward-facng rows TO each. with broad
alley, known as the general parade. y
separating the right and left wings. The
company streets run east and west per
| pendicnlarly to the color line, and tn,
tents of the cadet officers are pitchct
| looking west along tho streets of theiI
respective companies. Behind th'
rows of company officers tents, an,
opposite the right and left of camp
are the larger domicilcs of those cadei
magnates the ndjutant and quarter
master. Back still farther are tn,
double tents of the four army officer
who are the immediate commander
| and instructors of the four companies
aud behind them all, ut the rear o
camp, is the big marquee" of til,
Commnndant of Cadets. Dotted abou
the rear of camp are the little tent
occupied by the drum boy "orderlics,
the boot-blacks. varnishers, etc. an,
around them all, day and night pace
the chain OF sentrios. which, posted il
mid-June, Is never removed until tn,
simultaneous fall Of every tent on tn,
2Sth of August. - Captain Charles King
in Hdfuer Hdgaetne